IN OUR OPINION

Editorial: Schools desperate for new funding

Published: Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 11:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 11:29 p.m.

There is little question our public schools need new, additional funding. The reasons are well documented.

Art and music instruction is a sliver of what it once was. Principals are juggling to provide adequate physical education. New technology and transportation equipment are but a memory. Maintenance needs are piling up and total tens of millions of dollars — and growing. Summer school and after-school tutoring are about to be canceled. The list goes on and on.

It is against that troublesome backdrop that the Marion County School Board on Thursday held a limited discussion, but a discussion nonetheless, about possibly putting a school tax on next year’s November ballot — when voters will be electing a U.S. senator, a governor and state legislators, as well as three School Board members. Nothing was finalized, not even whether there will be a tax referendum, and there wasn’t a vote of any kind, but that the School Board is finally acknowledging the fiscal reality that our schools are woefully underfunded because of the year-after-year budget cuts wrought by the recession is welcome.

There were some areas of general consensus. The board would target and identify specific needs so voters would know what they are paying for. Board Chairman Ron Crawford said he wanted a clause that no tax would be assessed in any year that the school district gave out raises. Board member Angie Boynton called on the board to create a task force to seek public input on what exactly should be funded with any new tax dollars. Board member Bobby James said he believes some of the money needs to be targeted at programs that better prepare students for the workforce.

James also struck a chord with us when he talked about the overall quality of our schools, or the lack thereof.

“I think we need to have a clear vision as a School Board,” he said. “We need money to fund a modern school system. We have people coming in here looking for skilled workers, and we can’t keep going like we’re going. ... What we need to do is take this moment and retool our school system.”

There was no disagreement among board members, but Crawford correctly pointed out that whatever tax proposal the board comes up with cannot be “viewed as nothing more than a tax increase and a slush fund.”

That the School Board is discussing raising taxes will not sit well with some segments of the community, but the fact is our schools desperately need more money. Over the past 10 years, the annual school system operating budget has shrank by $74 million — a year — because of state funding rollbacks and declining property values.

Marion County Public Schools is among the nation’s 120 largest school districts out of more than 3,800.

James is right. It is time to retool and refocus on modernization and excellence.

Waiting on the state or the feds to fix our school funding issues is pure folly.

We are encouraged to see the School Board taking the lead and addressing what is clearly a matter of critical importance to our community, its businesses, its families and, most important, its children.

<p>There is little question our public schools need new, additional funding. The reasons are well documented. </p><p>Art and music instruction is a sliver of what it once was. Principals are juggling to provide adequate physical education. New technology and transportation equipment are but a memory. Maintenance needs are piling up and total tens of millions of dollars — and growing. Summer school and after-school tutoring are about to be canceled. The list goes on and on.</p><p>It is against that troublesome backdrop that the Marion County School Board on Thursday held a limited discussion, but a discussion nonetheless, about possibly putting a school tax on next year's November ballot — when voters will be electing a U.S. senator, a governor and state legislators, as well as three School Board members. Nothing was finalized, not even whether there will be a tax referendum, and there wasn't a vote of any kind, but that the School Board is finally acknowledging the fiscal reality that our schools are woefully underfunded because of the year-after-year budget cuts wrought by the recession is welcome.</p><p>There were some areas of general consensus. The board would target and identify specific needs so voters would know what they are paying for. Board Chairman Ron Crawford said he wanted a clause that no tax would be assessed in any year that the school district gave out raises. Board member Angie Boynton called on the board to create a task force to seek public input on what exactly should be funded with any new tax dollars. Board member Bobby James said he believes some of the money needs to be targeted at programs that better prepare students for the workforce.</p><p>James also struck a chord with us when he talked about the overall quality of our schools, or the lack thereof.</p><p>“I think we need to have a clear vision as a School Board,” he said. “We need money to fund a modern school system. We have people coming in here looking for skilled workers, and we can't keep going like we're going. ... What we need to do is take this moment and retool our school system.”</p><p>There was no disagreement among board members, but Crawford correctly pointed out that whatever tax proposal the board comes up with cannot be “viewed as nothing more than a tax increase and a slush fund.”</p><p>That the School Board is discussing raising taxes will not sit well with some segments of the community, but the fact is our schools desperately need more money. Over the past 10 years, the annual school system operating budget has shrank by $74 million — a year — because of state funding rollbacks and declining property values.</p><p>Marion County Public Schools is among the nation's 120 largest school districts out of more than 3,800. </p><p>James is right. It is time to retool and refocus on modernization and excellence. </p><p>Waiting on the state or the feds to fix our school funding issues is pure folly. </p><p>We are encouraged to see the School Board taking the lead and addressing what is clearly a matter of critical importance to our community, its businesses, its families and, most important, its children.</p>